Kidney takes reins at Leinster

CONFIRMATION of Declan Kidney's appointment as Leinster coach in succession to Gary Ella came yesterday.

This hopefully ends a saga that has gone on and on since the IRFU announced they would not be renewing his contract as assistant to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Family considerations were the priority when Kidney was deciding whether to remain with Gwent Dragons or accept a position here at home. Last night he expressed his appreciation to everybody at the Welsh club for the manner in which they accepted the situation.

Kidney will continue to live in Cork and can expect a huge amount of banter with the Munster fans.

It looked as if he was about to be lost to the Irish game when circumstances pushed him in the direction of Gwent Dragons earlier this year and he quickly appreciated the magnificent rugby atmosphere at Rodney Parade.

So it is with no little regret that he has had to turn his back on the Welsh: "They are lovely people at the Dragons and I cannot say enough about the excellent manner in which they reacted to the changing situation," Kidney said.

"Tony Brown, Andy Marinos, the players, just about everybody involved have been excellent in the way they understood what was happening. There are two sides involved here, personal and contractual, and in any job situation, you want to be as close to your family as possible."

It is rumoured the Dragons will receive a figure in the region of €75,000 from Leinster as compensation for the first six month's of Kidney's deal. That will be more or less offset by the money they picked up from the Scottish Union for Willie Anderson.

Kidney will be free to choose his own backroom team. His three year contract doesn't begin until August 1 but there is likely to be an announcement before then.

"I am delighted that Declan has agreed to join Leinster," said Mick Dawson, chief executive of the Lions. "He is an outstanding coach with huge experience of the domestic, club and international game."

Kidney understands the Dragons disappointment: "I am not one for breaking contracts. They are great rugby people with a delightful family type atmosphere and will be even stronger next year.

"Taking on Leinster is a major challenge and it will be a pleasure to be re-united with so many players I have known from coaching Irish underage teams and, of course, in the Irish set-up over the past few years.

"But my thoughts for today are with the Dragons," said Kidney.

Well they might be. Other big names were linked with the Welsh side but Kidney was the man they wanted and it looked a done deal until Leinster pounced.

Kidney has a big task on his hands given that Ken Ging, Willie Anderson and Tom McCormack have, for various reasons, fallen by the wayside in their respective roles as manager, assistant coach and public relations officer while two of their fitness advisers are also on the move - Aidan O'Connell to Munster and Dave Fagan, who may also be headed south.